6 ways to combat ageism and reframe how we think about getting older

Ageism is simply a blistery topic. It is defined arsenic prejudice against an idiosyncratic oregon radical solely connected the ground of their age. I precocious had the accidental to person a speech with Ashton Applewhite, a starring advocator and spokesperson to combat ageism and writer of “This Chairs Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism.” 

The format was a webinar presented by the Palos Verdes Peninsula Village’s 5th yearly Upside of Aging event. This Village is portion of a nationalist question to enactment older adults to property and live-in spot and enactment connected to their communities. We are fortunate to person respective other villages successful our country including: South Bay Village, Pasadena Village, Westside Pacific Villages and ChaiVillageLA.

Applewhite had nary volition of becoming the adept advocator connected ageism. She was motivated by apprehension astir her ain aging and realized that what she knew astir the taxable was a spot disconnected base. She ne'er thought she would eat, portion and slumber ageism 24/7; that’s what she does. 

Here are immoderate highlights of our conversation. 

Why ageism is getting attention: Those aged 65 and older accounted for almost 80 percent of deaths from Covid-19. That has drawn attraction to the taxable of age, notes Applewhite. Furthermore, she adds, determination is accrued consciousness of societal prejudice that has accrued sensitivity to stereotyping, including that of older adults. 

Terminology: As an author, Applewhite was bushed of perpetually typing “older adults” and alternatively came up with the word “olders” for older adults and “youngers” for younger folks. She likes these presumption due to the fact that they are not binary — meaning you are not either young oregon old. Aging is successful narration to others, she added. For example, a four-year-old is younger than her eight-year-old brother; an 85-year-old antheral is younger than his 90-year-old friend. 

Images of aging: How we comprehend specified images depends connected our ethnicity, contention and wide background, she noted. A “white-haired dude” who is connected a skateboard oregon is jumping retired of an airplane whitethorn beryllium an inspiration to some. To others, it whitethorn look similar an expected aspiration that realistically ne'er volition beryllium fulfilled. Applewhite has nary tendency to skydive and mostly approves of seeing images of white-haired radical connected a cruise ship. What is often missing, she adds, is the inclusion of those who are younger, older and of antithetic races, backgrounds and abilities. She besides notes that images of canes, walkers and wheelchairs often are avoided arsenic if determination is an attached societal stigma. In reality, these supportive devices are much related to what radical tin bash astatine immoderate age, besides known arsenic “ableism,” alternatively than age. 

Phrases and words: “You look large for your property “is 1 of her favorites. Her reply, “You also look large for your age.” An alternate is conscionable to say, “You look great.” Forget astir the “age” word. And past determination is the connection “still.” Are you inactive working, singing, having sex, playing tennis oregon connected and on? The accusation is that what you are doing is shocking oregon exceptional, peculiarly astatine your age. I person a effect to the word “still.” Substitute the connection “continue” arsenic successful “Yes, I proceed to work, play tennis, etc. The usage of the connection “old” arsenic an adjective oregon descriptor presents a problem, notes Applewhite. If a idiosyncratic is rigid, cranky oregon stubborn, usage those words alternatively of “old.” If idiosyncratic is creative, energetic oregon beautiful, usage those words alternatively of “young.” If we usage “old” arsenic a antagonistic and “young” arsenic a positive, we unknowingly are promoting and affirming property stereotypes. 

Advice: Any enactment we instrumentality that draws attraction to ageism is simply a measurement successful changing the culture, according to Applewhite. I afloat agree. She adds, if we halt for 10 seconds earlier buying an ageist day card, we are taking an incremental measurement successful counteracting ageism. 

Resources: A blog by Applewhite entitled “Yo, is this ageist?” invites individuals to taxable a question to find if a word, phrase, acquisition oregon reflection is ageist. See yoisthisageist.com. For escaped and vetted resources to amended radical astir ageism and however to dismantle it, spot The Old School: Anti-Ageism Clearinghouse astatine oldschool.info/about.

Our speech was enlightening, absorbing and fun. I anticipation it adds to your consciousness of ageism. We each person a relation to dismantle it. If you would similar to see the video of the conversation, spell to http://www.peninsulavillage.net/ Until adjacent week, enactment safe, beryllium good and of course, beryllium benignant to yourself and others. 

Helen Dennis is simply a nationally recognized person connected issues of aging, employment and the caller status with academic, firm and nonprofit experience. Contact Helen with your questions and comments astatine Helendenn@gmail.com. Visit Helen astatine HelenMdennis.com and travel her connected facebook.com/SuccessfulagingCommunity